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Septic Systems
Tank Talk
Important signs and symptoms that your septic system might be failing
A well designed, properly installed, carefully maintained septic system will function for decades without a problem. But let's be real, this never happens! Whether it's because the architect developed a poor plan, the plumber did a lousy job installing the drain field, or because of neglect, there will inevitably be issues with your septic system. Now, some issues are definitely worse than others when it comes to your septic system. By far, the worst problem that you can experience is when your system fails and sewage backs up directly into your home. It gives me the hebee geebees just thinking about that problem! Ick! Hopefully you will never experience this nightmare. However, there are many other problems that can develop over time with your septic system. The good news is that when your system is properly maintained, it greatly decreases your chances of having a major problem with your septic system. The most important thing that you can do to help make sure that you never develop any major problems with your septic system is to use it correctly! Septic systems are designed to handle water, human waste, and toilet paper. Anything else that you dispose of in your toilet, sink, or bathtub can cause problems with your septic system. For more information about using your toilet as trash can, check out this blog post. 7 Things That Should NEVER be Flushed Down Your Toilet In addition to treating your septic system with kindness and respect, the next thing that should be done on a regular basis is to have your septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years. Over time, your septic tank will continuously accumulate solid waste which will eventually fill the tank and prevent the system from working correctly. In order to prevent the problems that will arise from a full septic tank, it needs to be pumped to empty the solids. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common reasons why people develop problems with their septic system. If you haven't had your septic tank pumped within the last 3 to 5 years, you should strongly consider scheduling a pumping in the very near future. Failure to properly care for your septic system can lead to some real problems. There are several warning signs you may encounter when your septic system begins to fail. Please check out this blog post to learn about the symptoms of a failing septic system. 5 Signs You Should Have Your Septic Tank Pumped If you are experiencing any of these issues with your septic system, don't ignore them!
It is quite tempting to use the toilet as a magical trash can that can simply whisk any unwanted item as long as it will fit down that little hole. Trust us! This is not a good approach when it comes to proper care and feeding of your toilet. The only thing your toilet is designed to handle is human waste and toilet paper... that it! And maybe those "flushable wipes," but that's debatable. Flushing anything other than human waste and toilet paper can cause major problems for your septic system. We have compiled a list of 7 very commonly flushed items that definitely SHOULD NOT be flushed down the toilet.
If you have a septic system at your house there are some very important guidelines that must be followed to care for your septic system and allow it to perform properly. A well maintained septic system can be expected to last for decades without a problem. For most people, this is the ideal situation and certainly the path that we recommend to every homeowner. Having said that, we do understand that there are some people that just have an incomprehensible desire to destroy things and spend their money unnecessarily to repair what they have broken. If that's you, then we are here to help. Today we will present to you five ways that you can easily destroy your septic system and spend gobs of money to fix the unnecessary problems you have created. For the normal folks reading this article... please DON'T DO any of the things we suggest below... these tips and tricks are ONLY for the likes of those who want to destroy their septic system and part with large sums of money. Flush Everything Down the Toilet If you're looking to wreck your septic system, this is a great place to start. Septic systems are only meant for waste, water, and toilet paper. If you flush anything else down your toilet then you are well on your way to wreaking havoc in your septic system. Some common items that you can begin to flush immediately would include f eminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, paper towels, legos, fruit, vegetables, socks, credit card applications just to name a few. The only limit here is your own creativity. If you want to destroy your septic system just remember the motto, "If it fits, flush it!" Never Pump Your Septic Tank Septic tanks are limited in capacity and eventually will be filled with solid waste that needs to be removed. Typically this is required every 3 to 5 years but it can vary depending on water usage and household occupancy. If you are looking for an effective way to wreck your septic system, then don't ever get your tank pumped. This is a sure-fire way to cause a major system failure and will allow you to create real septic emergency! The most likely outcome is that you will end up with sewage backing up into your home. This will be an unpleasant experience for you but it will be well worth the trouble if you're looking to part with large sums of money. Plant Trees Directly On Top of Your Drain Field Drain fields are the area throughout your yard where your septic system releases wastewater into the soil for filtration and dispersal. This is a very healthy and natural process for treating wastewater produced by your septic system. If you want to destroy your septic system then a good long term plan is to plant trees directly on top of your drain field. The ultimate goal here is to completely handicap the drain field by clogging up the system with the tree roots. The tree roots will break through the piping and grow directly into the path of your drain pipes. This will block the flow of wastewater and hinder the overall efficiency of the system. Now be patient, this is a long term plan that will take years to unfold. But ultimately the payoff will be worth it because the tree roots will pulverize the drain field and cause everything to become clogged and ineffective. Divert Water Directly into Your Drain Field Normally, we would say that you should install landscaping, borders, and drains to help divert water away from your drain field. However, if you are looking to overwhelm and destroy your septic system, then you need a different plan. Drains fields can only process so much wastewater before the soil becomes over saturated. This leads to water pooling on the ground surface and ultimately backing up your system. In order to overwhelm your system in this way, we recommend that you install barricades to channel as much rain water as possible directly onto your drain field. The more water you allow onto your drain field, the more likely you are to overwhelm and destroy your system. We have provided these helpful tools of destruction against our better judgement. And please remember, these strategies should ONLY be employed by those looking to destroy their septic system. If you are like most people who would much rather take care of their septic system and avoid costly repairs, then we would highly recommend that you avoid the above recommendations at all costs!
Rick was sitting on his couch watching a rich brat on YouTube "unbox" his 14th lego set. Then he stirred, blinked his bleary eyes, and sat up in his chair. A sound was coming from the bathroom, one that was like to gravel in his ears. Startled out of his vegetative state, his mind began racing. Was his dad taking another extended trip to the porcelain throne? No. This was something different. This was a sound far worse than anything Rick had ever heard from his dad's extended bathroom trips. It sounded as if the devil himself was clawing his way up through Rick's toilet. He sat in silence as the gurgling sounds of Satan's return from the pit continued for several minutes. The gurgling began to fade, and Rick settled back into his chair. But soon enough it returned, and at this he decided it was time to investigate. Half expecting to peek into the bathroom and see the devil standing there, Rick wanted to be ready. He reached over to the coffee table and picked up his brother's Bible. Just as Rick was about to set off for the bathroom, Bible in hand, he paused for a moment and reached for his golf club... just in case the Bible thing didn't work out. He crept up to the bathroom door and tried to peek in without opening the door, but it was no use. There was too much steam to see anything. With a surge of bravado Rick kicked open the door and threw the Bible into the bathroom as he shouted, "In Jesus' name!" The door slammed against the wall and slammed shut so that he couldn't tell if he hit the devil with his holy toss. It became clear a second later as Rick heard the bible smack something solid, followed by the thud of something big falling into the bathtub. He hit his mark and the devil was down for the count. A loud shout rang through the bathroom that sounded a lot like Rick's brother. At first Rick thought his suspicions were finally confirmed, and his older brother really was the devil. But upon further consideration, it began to dawn on him that he should leave the area as soon as possible... which he did. Rick learned an important lesson that day. Though your toilet can make some very unusual gurgling sounds from time to time, most likely it's not the devil. The real cause of a gurgling toilet is negative pressure building up in the pipes. In a well-functioning drain system, air is allowed to flow freely through the lines, preventing negative pressure. This ensures that waste runs smoothly down and out the drains. Gurgling indicates abnormal suction building in the line which will eventually release, pushing air backward through the drainpipe and into the toilet bowl. When this occurs, you’ll hear a gurgling noise, the water in the bowl may bubble, and the toilet may flush itself. If your toilet gurgles, there is likely a clog somewhere in the drainage system or in the vent stack on your roof. Depending on the severity of the clog and its location in the system, you might be able to remedy this clog yourself. If your best efforts fail to diagnose the problem or you are unable to fix the gurgling toilet your self, it's time to call a professional.
Most homeowners spend little time thinking about their septic system... and who can blame them! But this can lead to a real problem if this results in neglect. Every septic system is designed to efficiently process waste for decades IF it is properly maintained. Did you notice that important word "if" in the last sentence? If a septic system is properly maintained, it will perform beautifully for decades! But if it is neglected, then you will eventually find yourself dealing with a real nightmare! There are several important elements to an effective maintenance plan for your septic system. The most fundamental, and arguably the most important element required to maintain your septic system is regular pumping of the septic tank. Most experts recommend pumping the septic tank every 3 to 5 years. However it is best to determine the recommendations for your system by evaluating your specific septic system and household water usage. When a septic system is not properly maintained, there are some tell-tale signs that will indicate that a problem is developing. Let's consider some of the common warning signs that may appear when a septic tank is not being pumped often enough. Sluggish Drains and/or Flushing One good indicator that your septic system is starting to show signs of distress is the efficiency of your drains. If your septic system is beginning to back-up, you will most likely notice that your sink, tub, or shower aren't draining as quickly as normal or your toilet doesn't flush as quickly or thoroughly as it should. If you begin to notice this in your home, don't ignore this warning sign. Take action before this builds into a much worse and costly problem. Odor As your septic tank fills up, there is less and less space for the odor causing gases in your tank. Sometimes these gases can begin to emanate from your toilet or drains inside the house. Additionally, these odor causing gases can find their way out through your drain field causing a sulphurous or sewage smell around the outside of your home. If you begin to notice these odors in and around your home, call a septic service immediately to take care of this problem before it becomes even worse. Surprisingly Lush, Green Lawn Over Drainfield When a septic drain field is functioning properly it shouldn't cause the lawn above to look noticeably better than the rest of the yard. If you can clearly map out your dainfield because the grass is more lush and green than the surrounding areas then there is a problem. This happens because the grass is benefiting from some extra fertilizer in the form of excessive waste liquid. If this is happening in your drainfield, you should have your system inspected immediately before an unsafe and hazardous situation develops. Standing Water When a septic tank is full you can begin to notice water pooling in various places around your yard. The most common places for this to occur are in the area around the septic tank and/or the drainfield. If you have water pooling in these areas, this is a sure sign that you need your septic system pumped and inspected immediately. Your septic system is becoming overwhelmed and this can lead to the worst problem of all, sewage backing up into the home. Sewage Backup Raw sewage backing up into the home is the most obvious sign of a problem, and certainly something that nobody ever wants to experience. If you are not on a regular pumping/inspection schedule with your septic system and you ignore the signs mentioned above, there is a good chance you will find yourself having to deal with this at some point. If this happens to you, contact a septic service immediately and avoid the area. Hopefully a pumping of your septic tank can resolve the issue, but your entire septic system will need an inspection to determine the cause of this unfortunate situation. The best way to avoid having to deal with any of the unpleasant signs mentioned above is to follow a regular pumping and inspection schedule. A well maintained septic system can last up to 30 (sometimes 40 or 50) years and save you loads of money, hassle and heartache. Athens Professional Septic & Drain is a full-service septic maintenance and repair company, so we’re expertly equipped to handle any type of septic emergency. Even so, the best option to stop disasters before they happen is to sign up for our regular service plan and keep your septic system in tip-top shape.
Location
PO Box 307 Crawford, GA 30630
Email
service@athensprofessionalseptic.com
Call
706-207-3739
Northeast Georgia's leading choice for septic system service
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